Category Archives: Uncategorized

MacKenzie Mims, an undergraduate student at Langston University, joined the Olson Lab as a summer student in the summer of 2021.

https://www.k-inbre.org/pages/k-inbre_symposium_past-photos-awards.html

Jenna Flory, Margaret Mankin, Charles Hamer, and Jake Bazaan joined the Olson Lab for the 2021-2022 school year. These students worked with Berenice on their capstone project for their degree in Biological and Agricultural engineering. We can not wait to see what these students can do!

Ruben Lerma-Reyes was named a Conviron Scholar for the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) in 2019. Ruben was also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention.

Ruben Lerma-Reyes gave a presentation on December 2nd, 2021 at K-State University’s Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (MCDB) Forum. The talk was titled Determining the Role of Expanded CyclinD1 Genes for Gonium Multicellularity.

Daniel Quiring, a local high school biology teacher, joined the Olson Lab as a summer scholar to further his exposure to biological research that he could take back with him to the class room to help his students. Daniel continues to return to the Olson Lab during the summer months to continue this research project. Thank you Daniel for making Biology more accessible to students in Kansas!

Harper Smith, freshman in biology, joins the Olson lab through CAT Community program that introduces younger students to research early in their career. This program allows Harper to complete a research project with a mentor and then present her work at the end of the semester! Welcome Harper!

John Tumberger, a undergraduate student in the Olson Lab, was accepted to Kansas University School of Medicine! John wants to pursue a career in Academic Medicine and use the research skills he has learned as an undergraduate to continue in research as a Medical Doctor.

The faculty members of the Division of Biology have awarded John Henry Tumberger, senior in biology with an emphasis in human health biology, Overland Park, with this year’s H.H. Haymaker Award for Excellence. The Haymaker Award is the highest honor bestowed on a biology student at Kansas State University by the Division of Biology. 

The award was named in honor of Herbert Henley Haymaker, a K-State alumnus, Bachelor of Science in agronomy graduate and faculty member from 1917-1963. The award is given annually to one of more than 100 eligible seniors majoring in biology, fisheries, wildlife, conservation, and environmental biology, or microbiology, who has both an extraordinary level of accomplishment as an undergraduate, and the promise to continue such quality performance in a biological sciences-related career. Nomination and selection criteria include grades, rigor of academic program, extracurricular activities, recommendations by faculty, and performance in an interview. This year, six seniors were nominated. 

Tumberger joined the Division of Biology in 2019. Tumberger is a highly capable and intelligent student. 

“Little, if anything, will limit John’s ability not only to succeed, but to be the absolute best at what he seeks out to accomplish,” one professor said. 

Tumberger has maintained an excellent academic record while actively committed to many activities on and off campus, including research, community service, maintaining leadership roles in multiple student organizations, serving as a teaching assistant, and working a part-time job. Tumberger has an amazing ability to excel on many fronts simultaneously. 

Tumberger has worked in the research laboratory of Bradley Olson, associate professor of biology, since his first year at K-State and accomplished a tremendous amount. In the Olson lab, Tumberger studies the evolution of multicellularity using the Volvocine algae as a model, focusing on molecular basis of predator-induced cooperation. In addition, Tumberger spends summers working at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute studying pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of Naltrexone in pediatric populations. Tumberger has presented his research in multiple venues. He has two publications in press and two more in preparation. He is second author on two of those publications. 

Tumberger has demonstrated the principles of leadership and service throughout his time at K-State. Tumberger cares about making the world better through helping others. For example, this year Tumberger served as mentorship chair for the Biology Mentorship Program. He grew the program from mentoring approximately 50 first-year students in 2020-2021 during the pilot year to mentoring almost 200 first-year students under his leadership. Tumberger’s goal was to have the entire class of incoming biology majors paired with an upper-level student as their mentor. This was a huge operation, and Tumberger’s innovation, organization and drive were essential to its success. Tumberger not only recruited approximately 60 volunteer mentors, but he also developed training material, built a Canvas page to allow for smooth communication between coordinators and mentors, ran two mentor training workshops over the summer, matched just under 200 incoming students with their mentors promptly and carefully, and maintained lines of communication with mentors and mentees. Simultaneously, Tumberger also served as a mentor. 

One mentee said that “John was everything I needed in a mentor … John patiently guided me … which I am very grateful for. I would be way more lost today if John had not taken the time from his busy schedule to mentor me.” Another mentee said that “He was always there and extremely kind.” 

Impressively, Tumberger has brought this level of dedication to not only classes, research and the Division of Biology, but also to many other campus organizations and communities. Tumberger serves as president of the Human Body Club and has been philanthropic and mentorship chair of the Pre-Med Club, and volunteers with the American Red Cross. In addition, Tumberger has also served as a teaching assistant for Human Body 1, BIOL 441, in fall 2021 and spring 2022. As a teaching assistant, Tumberger devotes a considerable amount of time to helping students in and out of class. 

Tumberger demonstrates initiative, academic excellence and leadership. He has already accomplished a huge amount during his time at K-State. He will be graduating from K-State in December 2022, after which he will work at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute for spring 2023, then attend medical school. The faculty members of the Division of Biology are excited to see what the future will bring for Tumberger and they are confident that he will find success wherever he goes.

https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=82535

John Tumberger and Gabi Shipman were named the Division of Biology’s Most Promising Student’s. Faculty nominated students for the award. Grades, rigor of academic program, extracurricular activities, recommendations by faculty and performance in an interview were factors used to determine the award winners. Division of Biology faculty sponsor the Most Promising Student Award and consider it to be one of the greatest honors bestowed on biology students at K-State. The winners are an accomplished group of students, representing the breadth of biology in their interests.

This is what members of the department had to say about our students:

Gabriela Shipman is a sophomore majoring in microbiology with a minor in philosophy from Lenexa. She is a member of the university honors program and also participated in K-State’s Swing and Salsa Club. She works in the research laboratory of Brad Olson, studying the origins of multicellularity. She is described as a “lab rat,” a student who loves to be in the lab. Shipman is an inquisitive and dedicated researcher with a very strong intellect and aptitude for thinking scientifically. She is planning to pursue a career as a research scientist.

John Tumberger is a sophomore in biology — human health biology option — with a minor in leadership from Overland Park. Tumberger works in the research lab of Brad Olson. He has pursued two projects, one related to the evolution of multicellularity and one to develop a SARS-CoV-2 drug. Through these projects, he consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and an excellent ability to use scientific literature, and he is making great progress in his research. Tumberger is philanthropy chair of the K-State Pre-Med Club and future chair of mentorship for the biology ambassador class of 2021-2022. He has volunteered with the American Red Cross and the Riley County Health Department. Tumberger is planning a career in medicine.

https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=74912

Gabi Shipman and John Tumberger were selected to present their research at K-State’s Undergraduate Research Symposium in both 2021 and 2022.

https://www.k-state.edu/undergradresearch/opportunities/undergrad_res_symposium/research%20symposium.html